You have to be careful when buying on E-Bay, but you'd think that someone wishing to avoid a black mark would use some common sense. I received a Braniff DC-8 in the package below - a reused Christmas about the size for a shirt. The box had been through the wringer, not surprising given the post office. But, I wouldn't complain, except that the interior "protection" consisted of 2 sheets of tissue paper wrapped around the box, which was not secured in any way. Yep, that's right, the model box bounced back and forth inside the package all the way! Needless to say, the box and the plastic tray were trashed, killing the resale value - and hardly qualifying as *mint*. I guess what peeved me off more than anything was that the moron chared $5.25 for shipping (note he paid $3.14). The small, flat rate postage box prices out at $5.35 at the post office, $5.15 if you order them in advance on-line. Frankly, bubble wrap isn't even needed, just stuff crushed up newspaper in the rest of the box, and they're superbly protected.
But Andrew, let me say your packaging proved it's worth, the model is fine!
*Names not given to protect the guilty, but I will send the E-Bay handle in a PM if asked.
You're lucky the model survived intact. I bought a GJ Emirates A380 on E. Bay last year and a huge box arrived that was empty with no packing whatsoever and a hole in the side, where the model had broken through the box and was lost in transit through being thrown about by the post office. When I complained to the seller, his reply was " this is how it came from Emirates, so I thought it would be okay"! At least he gave me a refund and was pretty decent about it, but some people see oblivious to the fragility of these models and that they should be packed with care.
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Adrian
1/400th new mould wish list - you're doing a great job manufacturers, now just these left to do:
Armstrong-Whitworth Argosy,Bristol 170 Freighter,Airspeed Ambassador,Avro York,Breguet 763 Deux Ponts,
Tupolev Tu-104,Tu-114,Tu-134, Ilyushin IL-14, Canadair CL-44, L-1649A Starliner, Curtiss C-46
The DC-8-62 was (is?) a great airliner, and I think AeroClassics is the only one who models this plane, and it's a nice model, and it's amazing that yours arrived intact. Yeah, some sellers don't know the value of the box, squashed boxes and wrong boxes just don't get it. Go ahead and trash the guy in your feedback - that's what it's for. Later, Doug
If the model arrived as described and wasn't damaged in transit just file a complaint to eBay and ask for refund for the postage and packing charges. Good luck.
I paid $7.50 for shipping on that particular item. Well within the rate for a USPS priority mail box
You should check the auction description to see whether it is suppose to ship with USPS Priority mail or not. If not, contact the seller. I bought stuffs on ebay. Some retailers also sell the models on ebay. A lot of them are well respect sellers. Cheers,
I hit him in the feedback, believe me. He won't get any more of my business, for certain. Not really worth my time and effort to complain to E-Bay.
Whenever I ship something, I pack it like I was sending it to my mother (with the full knowledge that if it arrived damaged, I'd hear about it until the final reading of her will.)
How NOT to ship a model.
Re: How NOT to ship a model.
